Pneumatic attachment for rocking-chairs.



. V. SRAMCIK.

PNEUMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR ROCKING CHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1917.

1 ,Qfi'T/Q, 1%, Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I: W Jr 4 a: T a T a ATTORNEY V. SRAIVICIK.

PNEUMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR ROCKING CHAIRS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, I9,-

Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ATTORNEY VENJDEL SRAMCIK, 0F SENECAVILLE, OHIO.

PNEUMATIC ATTACHMENT FOR ROGKING-CHAIRS.

Application filed March 30, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VENDEL SRAMCIK, a citizen of Austria-Hungary, residing at Senecaville, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and.

useful Improvements in Pneumatic Attachments for Rocking-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatics, and more particularly to an air supplying Or cooling attachment for rocking chairs.

The object of the invention is to provide a rocking chair equipped with simple and efiicient means for cooling the user thereof by the rocking motion of the chair.

Another object is to provide a bellows attachment for rocking chairs so constructed and connected as to utilize the rocking motion for causing a continuous draft of air for cooling the occupant of the chair.

Another object is to provide a chair having peculiarly constructed arms with which the air discharge pipes are connected and by means of which the positions of the discharge mouths of said pipes may be oscillated.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

1 which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and'in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a chair equipped with this improved cooling attachment,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof with parts broken out, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 41- 1 of Fig. 2 looking upward, showing one bellows collapsed and the other expanded. r

In the embodiment illustrated, a rocking chair 1 of ordinary construction is shown, having secured to the back thereof, a pair of bellows 2 and 3 of any appropriate type. The securing means consists of a plate 4 Which is here shown attached to the back 5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1918.

Serial No. 158,663.

of the chair although obviously it may constitute the back proper, if desired.

These bellows are adapted to be actuated alternately by forward and backward rock 1ng motion of th chair through the medium of a device which has constant engagement with the chair supporting surface.

This device comprises a bar 6 extending longitudinally of the chair between the rockers thereof, preferably nearer one rocker than the other and the front end of which is pivotally connected with a bracket 7, here shown in the form of two laterally spaced apertured ears 8 carried at the rear end of a rod 9 which extends through an aperture 10 formed in the front rocker connecting cross bar 11, said aperture opening from the front to the rear faces of said bar as is shown clearly in Fig. 2. A roller 12 is carried by the rear end of the bar 6 which projects beyond the rear rocker connecting. cross bar 13 and is designed to slidably engage the supporting surface of the chair. This bar 6 has a recess or notch 14E formed in its upper edge adjacent said roller and which is designed to receive the rear rocker connecting cross bar 13, said bar 13 being also recessed as shown at 13 in Figs. 2 and 3 which provides for the chair being rocked to its extreme limit in a rearward direction without interference of the cross bar 13 with said bar 6.

An upright 15 rises from the front end of bar 6 adjacent its pivotal connection with bracket 7 and is preferably normally inclined slightly forward from its lower to- I ward its upper end as is shown clearly in Fig. 2. A link or pitman 16 is pivotally connected at its front end with the upper end of the standard 15 and extends longitudinally of the chair toward the rear thereof, its other end being pivotally mounted on a lever 17 fulcrumed midway its ends on a standard 18 rising from and fixed to the rear rocker connecting cross bar 13. As shown, this lever 17 is fulcrumed on a pivot 19 in the form of a bolt secured in the upper end of standard 18.

The link or pitman 16 is connected with said lever 17 at a point midway between its fulcrum and one of the free ends thereof, so that when said link is reciprocated back andforth, the lever 17 will be turned on its fulcrum for a purpose to be described.

Pulleys 20 and 21 are mounted on a cross bar or rung 22 which connects the rear legs of the chair as is shown clearly in Figs. 2 and-3,and which are designed for a purpose presently to be described.

Arms 23 project. rearwardly from the back 4 near its lower end and the free ends thereof are connected by a rod 24. Two pulleys 25 and 26 are mounted to turn on said rod 24 and are positioned in longitudinal alinement with the pulleys 20 and 21 carried by the cross bar or rung 22 and over which passes two belts 27 and 28. These belts 27 and 28 are connected at their ends, respectively, with the ends of lever 17 and with the lower ends of the bellows 2 and 3 (see Figs; 2 and 4). As seen in these figures, the belts are connected at one end to said bellows, pass rearwardly over pulleys 25 and 26, then inwardly around pulleys 20 and 21 with their other ends connected with the lever 17 so that when said lever is oscillated on its fulcrum, first one bellows and then the other will be expanded, means being provided for insuring the contraction of one bellows when the other is expanded and which means will now be described.

The means for closing one of said bellows on theexpansion of the other comprises two arms 29 and 30, which depend from the lowerends of said bellows 2 and 3 and have connected with their free ends a cord or belt 31 which passes around a pulley 32 mounted on the bottom of the chair in a plane midway between the plane occupied by said arms, as is shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. It will thus be seen that when bellows 2 is expanded, a pull will be exerted on belt 31, which passes around pulley 32 and thereby draw bellows 3 inward into collapsed position and vice versa, when bellows 3 is expanded a corresponding pull will be exerted on belt 31 to contract bellows 2 and this alternate contraction and expansion of the bellows occurs with the forward and rearward movements of the chair owing to the peculiar connection of the links, belts and pulleys above described.

The bellows 2 and3 are provided in their rear walls with air inlet apertures 2' and 3,

respectively, and are provided at their upper ends with outlet openings 2 and 3 (see Fig. These openings 2 and 3 comm-unicate with conduits and 34which lead through a thickened transversely extending portion 35 of' the chair back 4. These conduits 33- and 34 merge at their inner ends into a chamber 36- from which leads two tubes 37 and 38, preferably composed of rubber. These tubes 37 and 38 extend in opposite directions and pass through openings 39 formed inthe upright members 40 of the chair arms. These tubes terminate at their free ends in discharge nozzles '01- mouths 41 which are designedto direct the air passing through said tubes on the occupant of the chair.

The arms, of which the members 40 constitute the uprights, are composed of these upright members 40 and horizontally disposed links 42 which are pivotally connected at one end with the upper ends of said uprights 40 and at their rear ends with the side edges of the chair back 4. These upright chair members 40 are longitudinally slotted as shown at 43 and through which project bolts 44 extending laterally from the chair scat, having wing nuts 45 thereon for adjustably securing said members 40 in position relatively to the chair seat. It will thus be seen that by adjusting these members 40 the position of the air discharge nozzles or mouths 41 may be varied at the will of the user so that the air passing therefrom may be discharged at a higher or lower level.

In the operation of this cooling apparatus, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 4, which is the position assumed when the chair is at the extreme limit of its forward rocking motion, the bellows 2 are collapsed and the bellows 3 expanded. \Vhen the chair is rocked baclnvardly the rear end of bar 6 will be brought into engagement with the supporting surface of the chair and cause the standard 15 connected therewith to move forward and through link 16 oscillate lever 17 so as to force the end with which said link is connected inwardly and the opposite end outwardly thereby exerting a pulling action on the belt 27 which will cause the bellows 2 to expand and bellows 3 to collapse, the collapsing being occasioned by the pull exerted on belt 31.

From the above description it will be understood that the reverse operation will occur when the chair is rocked forwardly, the roller end of bar 6 will then operate as a weight to move the standard 15 rearwardly and through link 16 actuate lever 17, expanding bellows 3 and in turn contracting bellows 2 by means of the belt 3 From the above description, it will be obvious that the rocking back and forth of chair 1 will operate to alternately expand and contract the bellows 2 and 3 causing the air to be forced out through the nozzles 4], first on one side of the occupant and then on the other.

WVhen it is desired to use the chair without the cooling apparatus being operated, this may be accomplished by disconnecting the belts 27 and 28 from the pulleys 20 and 21: and then the chair may be rocked in the ordinary manner Without any cooling being eflect-ed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the'construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains and: while I! have described the principle of operation of the 13267314 I Mm invention together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, Idesireto have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as are within the scope of the claimed invention. a a

'Iclaim:

1. The com binationwith a rocking chair; ofan apparatus associated therewith and comprising a pair of bellows mounted thereon, a surface engaging member pivotally connected at one end with the front of said chair, a lever fulcrumed intermediately of its ends, a pulley and cable connection between said bellowsand lever, a connection between said lever and the front end of said surface engaging member whereby the bellows are alternately actuated on the rocking of the chair, and means for conducting air from said bellows. i

2. The combination with a rocking chair; of an apparatus associated therewith and comprising a pair of bellows, a surface engaging member pivotally connected at its front end to said chair at the front end thereof, an upright rising from the pivoted front end of said member, a lever carried by said chair and fulcrumed intermediately of its ends, a link pivotally connected with said upright and with said leverbetween its fulcrum and one of its ends, and a connection between the ends of said lever and said bellows whereby the oscillating movement of said lever will operate to expand first one of said bellows and then the other.

8. The combination with a rocking chair having a back; of an apparatus associated therewith and comprising a pair of bellows mounted on said back, a surface engaging member pivotally connected at its front end to said chair at the front end thereof, an upright risingfrom the pivoted front end of said member, an upright carried by the rear end of said chair, a lever fulcrumed intermediately of its ends on said last mentioned upright, a link pivotally connected with the first mentioned upright and with said lever between its fulcrum and one of its ends, and a connection between the ends of said lever and said bellows whereby the oscillating movement of said lever will operate to expand first one of said bellows and then the other 4. The combination with a rocking chair having a back; of an apparatus associated therewith and comprising a pair of bellows mounted on said back, a surface engaging member pivotally connected at its front end to said chair at the front end thereof, an upright rising from the pivoted front end of said member, an upright carried by the rear end of said chair, a lever fulcrumed intermediately of its ends on said last mentioned upright, a link pivotally connected with the first mentioned upright and with said lever between its fulcrum and one of its ends, a connect1on' between the ends of said lever-and said bellows whereby the oscillatlows will be collapsed on the expansion of the other.

5. The combination with a rocking chair having a back; of an apparatus associated therewith and comprising a pair of bellows;

mounted on said back, a surface engaging memberpivotally connected at its front end to said chair at the front end thereof, an upright rising from the pivoted front end of said member, an upright carried by the rear end' ofsaid chair, a lever fulcrumed intermediately of its ends on said last mentioned upright, a link pivotally connected withthe first mentioned upright and with said lever between its fulcrum and one of its ends, a connection between the ends of said lever and said bellows whereby the oscillating movement of said lever will operate to expand first one of said bellows and then the other, arms depending from said bellows, a pulley mounted on said chair bottom, and a belt connected at its opposite ends with said arms and extending around said pulley, whereby the expansion of one of said bellows will operate to collapse the other.

6. The combination with a rocking chair having a back, and front and rear rocker connecting cross bars; of an apparatus associated therewith and comprising a pair of bellows mounted on said back, a surface engaging bar disposed longitudinally between said rockers, a member pivotally connecting the front end of said surface engaging bar with the front rocker connecting cross bar, an upright fixed to said surface engaging bar at the front end thereof and inclined forwardly and upwardly, an upright fixed to said rear rocker connectin cross bar, a lever fulcrumed on said upright to swing in a horizontal plane, a link pivotally connected at its opposite ends with said first mentioned upright and with said lever, pulleys mounted on the rear portion of said chair, other pulleys mounted on said chair back in a plane beyond the bellows and in alinement with the pulleys on the chair, and

belts connected at their ends with said belpulleys mounted to revolve on said rod, a

Copies of this patent may be obtained for lever'moun ted to pivot in a horizontal plane,

pulleys carried by said chair, belts connected 1 with said lever and operableby the rocking motion of the chair to oscillate said lever and alternately expand and collapse said bellows, and means for conducting air from said bellows.

8. The combination with a rocking chair having a back, and front and rear connecting' cross bars;' of an apparatus associated therewith and comprising a surface engaging bar arranged longitudinally of said chair between the rockers thereof and ex tending at its rear end beyond the rear rocker connecting cross bar, a roller mounted on the rear end of said surface engaging bar, meanspivotally connecting the front end of said bar with the front rocker connecting cross bar, said surface engaging bar and said rear rocker connecting cross bar having oppositely disposed registering recesses, a connection between the pivoted front end of said surface engaging bar and said bellows whereby the rocking motion of the chair will operate to alternately expand and collapse said bellows, and means for conducting air from said bellows.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VENDEL SRAMCIK.

Witnesses:

HATTIE MCVICKER, J. A. MoVrcnnn.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

